Sleep Apnea, Asthma Closely Linked: Study

Just about anyone can develop obstructive sleep apnea, whether they’re young, old, male or female. With that being said, certain people are more likely to suffer from this dangerous disorder. We already know that overweight people are more likely to develop OSA. Now, new research indicates that asthmatic people may also be at greater risk.

A Strong Association

Research appearing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM) shows a major link between obstructive sleep apnea and asthma. Conducted at the University of Wisconsin, the study looked closer at older data from 1988 NIH research which was based on 1,500 participants. In the end, researchers saw that subjects who suffered from asthma were 1.7 times more likely to develop sleep apnea after eight years. The risk was even higher (2.3 times) for subjects who developed asthma early in their childhood.

According to the experts who conducted this study, the longer someone suffers from asthma, the more likely he or she will develop sleep apnea; in fact, they said the risk jumps by 10 percent for every five years a person lives with asthma.

Assessing Your Own Risk

According to this new research, if you have ever suffered from asthma, you are more likely to also suffer from sleep apnea. That said, virtually anyone can develop this dangerous disorder; and many people suffer from OSA without even knowing they have a problem.

If you have trouble breathing at night, wake frequently, snore or experience daytime fatigue; you may have sleep apnea. If so, you need an effective OSA treatment that will provide a clear airway during sleep.

A mountain of research has linked sleep apnea to some troubling medical issues. To maintain good health and enjoy a higher quality of life, please call (303) 691-0267 at the TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado in Denver, to learn how a simple oral sleep appliance can alleviate your OSA symptoms.